How to Read Scripture as a Window into God’s Heart - The Crosswalk Devotional - August 14
How to Read Scripture as a Window into God’s Heart
Deidre Braley
Bible Reading:
…if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself. - 2 Timothy 2:13
As my professor, Dr. Dan Lowery, often says, “Remember—the Scriptures were written for you, but they were not written to you.” In other words, it is not always helpful to read a passage from the Bible and think, “Oh, this is about me.” Perhaps a better approach is to ask the question, “What does this reveal about God?”
Since learning to ask this question, I haven’t been able to read the Bible in the same way again. It has helped me to notice how God’s actions consistently reveal the essence of his character to be Love.
A beautiful example of this can be found in the stories of the first humans on Earth, each of whose sins we can likely recall with ease. First, we read about Adam and Eve, who disobeyed God and ate fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and then there is the story of Cain, who killed his brother Abel out of jealousy.
But when we look away from their sin and zero in on God’s role in these stories, we notice something remarkable: in both instances, the characters do experience consequences as a result of their sins—but God also provides for them in unconditionally loving, and even surprising, ways. This is a moment when it makes sense to ask that good question we talked about: “What does this reveal about who God is?”
When Adam and Eve are sent from Eden after eating from the tree, the author of Genesis makes sure to point out an important detail. Though they had become aware of their nakedness only after eating the fruit—the shame a direct result of their sin—God didn’t send them out of the Garden that way. Genesis tells us that “...the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them” (3:21).
And in the next chapter, when Cain kills his brother Abel and tells God that his punishment of being a fugitive and wanderer on the Earth is too great, God once again offers a covering of protection; Genesis says that “...the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him” (4:15).
What does this reveal about God? That even when his people sin against him and consequences are necessary and just, he does not stop providing for them. He does not stop caring about them. He is compassionate and covers them even still.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Once we learn to approach Scripture through the lens of this question, “What does this reveal about God?” we can then ask another good and important question: “How does this understanding about God impact how I relate with him?”
In these cases, we see that even after humans royally mess up, God is good, and loving, and faithful. Even when their sins have consequences (all actions do!), God makes sure to cover them with his provision. Knowing this, we can begin to work this understanding into the fabric of our own faith, because God never changes. Who he was then, he still is today. That means that when we mess up—even when we are consumed with shame—God still loves us, and wants to cover us in that love. We can be confident as we approach him in repentance, knowing that he cares for us, even now. Isn’t it such a relief to have these stories as evidences of God’s good character?
Further Reading:
Here are other stories of God’s faithfulness despite his people’s sins:
- When he provides for Israel in the wilderness (Exodus 16-17)
- When he restores relationship with David after he commits adultery/murder and allows Bathsheba to bear a son (2 Samuel 12)
- The story of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11)
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